2016 Holiday Gift Guide $50 to $100

Can you believe it’s holiday season again already? This time of year always seems to creep up on us unexpectedly, and this year’s no different. But as always, your trusty MO editors are here to help you with gift ideas for the moto friends and family in your life. Last week, “Big Guns” Roderick brought you some gift ideas ranging from free-ninety-nine to $50. This week we continue the list of ideas, upping the prices from $50-$100. You know, for those people you like enough to buy something nice, but not too nice.

Let’s face it, riding with cold hands sucks. If your special someone is a diehard rider in a cold climate, and you just hate the thought of them not being able to ride because of frigid digits, they’ll love you if you got them the Oxford Rain Seal Handlebar Muffs. The 1500-denier polyester material is 100% wind and waterproof and features Thermacel insulation for warmth. Designed not to impede with the motorcycle controls, the muffs also feature 3M reflective piping for better visibility from other motorists. For a reasonable $49.95, these muffs are sure to be a hit. Find them here.

Some riders really need to feel connected to their motorcycle in order to ride quickly. For those riders who trust that their legs will grip the tank while they hang off into the next corner, products like Tank Grips from TechSpec are invaluable. Basically rubber pads with a rough finish that stick onto both sides of the fuel tank, they help ensure legs stay adhered to the tank. This even benefits casual or touring riders, as gripping the tank with the knees without them sliding can help alleviate pressure from the wrists. TechSpec sells pads for virtually every motorcycle (and they also sell a universal pad kit you can customize in case a particular model isn’t available), with prices starting at $58. More information is available at the TechSpec website.

Honestly, I don’t know squat about dartboards. However, I do know how enjoyable it is to throw pointy objects at dartboards, and for that purpose, we think this Harley-Davidson Skull Bristle dartboard would make a perfect addition to any household or man cave. And since I don’t know what makes a good dartboard, here’s the official description, straight from its Amazon listing:

The Harley-Davidson Skull Bristle Dartboard is made to exacting English standards for quality and is constructed from millions of the finest African sisal fibers for self-healing durability. This premium tournament quality dartboard has a Skull design on the face and is networked with a matrix of high tensile steel wires for strength. The bulls-eye is staple free allowing for fewer bounce-outs and higher scoring darts. The Harley-Davidson Skull Dartboard is league and tournament tested for those who demand the best.

The sad truth is that it’s simply too cold for many people to ride their motorcycle(s) right now, even with a handlebar muff. Winter storage is a real thing, and after you’re done putting stabilizer in your fuel, consider sheltering your bike with a cover– especially if you have to store your motorcycle outdoors.

A variety of choices are available, including this universal one from Covercraft, which says its covers are “manufactured from a silver-colored urethane coated polyester fabric with an elastic hem to help keep the cover in place. Seams are overlapped and double stitched for added strength.” Available in four sizes at this $62 price point – full dress, semi-full dress, half dress, and naked cycle – there are also covers for specific models, choppers, half covers, and more. Visit the Covercraft website for more information.

Here’s a newsflash: stopping is important. While that may be obvious, many don’t know that one of the best upgrades you can make to your motorcycle is relatively simple and inexpensive: upgrading to steel-braided brake lines. The standard rubber lines on many motorcycles are often very good when new, but after enough time they can start to expand when the rider pulls the brake lever, meaning you’re losing some braking force. With steel-braided lines, expansion doesn’t happen, ensuring maximum braking pressure according to how hard the lever was pulled. Coremoto steel-braided brake lines are made right here in the U.S.A., and are available in a wide variety of colors and fittings to fit your motorcycle. Coremoto also offers Custom Brake Lines for your bike. All you have to do is give them a few measurements. Pre-made kits for many of today’s popular motorcycles start at $69.00, and are already available on the Coremoto site.

One of the biggest fears a motorcyclist has is not being seen by other motorists. AdMore Lighting Inc. is aware of this and is here to help. As its name might suggest, the company offers lighting solutions for motorcyclists, including offering lighting kits to be used with a variety of top cases. A Givi, in this case. This particular item, an LED upgrade kit, is a bit of a cheater, since it requires you already have the light kit for your Givi case, which costs more than our $100 price cap. Still, it’s included in this list because an upgrade to LEDs is worth the extra $69 this kit costs. Learn more about AdMore Lighting’s products here.

Here’s something for the ladies who think most gloves out there are boring and bland. The Icon One Thousand Catwalk glove come in either leopard or zebra print, and are more than just fashionable – they protect, too. The print is overlaid on leather, with hard knuckle protection built-in. The zipper and strap closure help the glove stay where it should. And no matter what you think of these gloves, Icon says, “Catfights have never been so glamorous.“ Get them at CrusierCustomizing.com.

If your future motorcyclist is a tad too young to be twisting throttles, try getting them started on two wheels with this rocking base from Strider. Much like the rocking horses we played with as kids, the Strider rocking base gets toddlers ages 12-24 months to develop their balance in a fun environment. Then, once he or she is old enough, they can ditch the base and start riding their balance bike on their own! To be used in conjunction with the 12-inch Strider bike, you can learn more at the Strider website.

Any motorcyclist would love the gift of extra storage on their bike. Help make that dream a reality with this tail bag from Ogio. Constructed from neoprene, tarp, and nylon, the bag boasts a total of 1274 cubic inches of volume, so there’s a ton of room for a change of clothes, a sack lunch, and who knows what else. If your special someone doesn’t know how to pack light, side pockets provide even more storage space. A non-slip pad helps protect both the bike and the bag, and there’s an integrated rain hood, too. Ogio’s site has more info and ordering instructions.

If the Icon leopard or zebra gloves aren’t your style, then maybe some retro-inspired gloves from the Alpinestars Oscar collection will suit your fancy. The Rayburn leather gloves, pictured here, feature an upper made from goat’s leather for a supple feel, while perforated leather is found near the knuckle area for greater comfort. Though the Rayburn might look old school, it features some thoroughly modern protective features, like synthetic suede reinforcements in key areas for durability and additional grip, and hard knuckle protection incorporated into the leather for a cleaner look. Check out the Alpinestars site for more details, including a sizing chart and ordering info.